112°

What is worth standing on the edge of a dirt field in the afternoon when the thermometer says 112°? If it is September, and you are in Arizona, it is probably for the start of dove hunting. This year Arizona passed a new law that reopened some old dove hunting land in the state. The law passed allowed hunters to legally discharge a firearm to pursue game inside city limits, allowing a lot of desert to reopen for hunting. Thus I find myself in the afternoon after work standing in a dirt field slowly roasting.

Fortunately, a friend of mine had scouted this field and the doves where moving continuously through the field. We set up to intercept them as they moved in the afternoon from feeding fields to some water just east of the dirt lot. This year I was unable to make it out and shoot some skeet preseason, this showed right away. The first 20 doves to fly by me were given a free pass, as I was nowhere near hitting one. Finally I hit my first bird of the season, which got the ball rolling. One of the things I enjoy about dove hunting is the crazy variety of shots they provide. Most of the time I can make the right to left shot, or the straight on shot, but find left to right to be more difficult. Dove will challenge you on all angles and speeds. As the evening wore on and the suns affects diminished, my shooting improved. Day one of dove hunting was once again successful.

My Dream Fishing Trip

This blog entry is my submission for the Red Tuna Shirt Club and Outdoor Blogger Network Writing Contest.

I have been thinking about what my ideal fishing trip would be, and having reflected upon past fishing experiences to create it. As a child I remember going fishing with my father in central Utah. We would drive up a small canyon and pull over where it changed to a dirt road. Early morning trips would start cold and crisp with the dew covering everything along the stream banks. Mule deer would be moving along the creek and feeding in the meadows before heading up the mountain sides to bed down. This is where I remember catching some of my first trout. My father showed me how to fish along the eddy lines and behind boulders to find feeding redsides. At that age almost all the fish were huge and we caught plenty of them. With a pole in one hand and fishing creel slung over the shoulder, these trips are the seedlings for my trout fishing passion.

With this in mind, I think the perfect trip would be a trout fishing trip; somewhere in the mountains where there is plenty of trout and wildlife to enjoy.  Nearly forty years have passed since my early childhood fishing trips and my life has changed.  I would enjoy floating down the river with my dad and my four children. To me this would make the perfect trip.  

With the criteria set, I think the obvious choice is trout fishing in Alaska with my family. To me this is one of the most rugged and scenic places on earth. All the stories you hear about Alaska involve wildlife around every corner. We could see tall snowcapped mountains and bears and moose feeding along the river bank. We would also be able to see remote rivers that hold some of the biggest trout ever.  I would also have the opportunity of floating down the river, and showing my father how and where to drift flies in the current. This will allow me to share with my children what my dad shared with me and continue on for generations.  This would represent my dream fishing trip.

Tuesday Night Fly Tying

For the second time now I have had a chance to hang out at Bass Pro Shops and tie flies. My neighbor, who works in the fly shop asked me last month to take the fly tying class there so I agreed, can always use the improvement and helpful tips. Both of the classes have been enjoyable with several people sitting around the table tying flies. We have played around with a few patterns, although the time is mostly spent talking about whatever random topic pops up. It is amazing that you can sit with someone you have never meet, but through a passion for an activity, there is a bond as if you had known them for years.

One of the flies we tied was a bass plug using deer hair. If you have never tried to tie a fly using deer hair I recommend it highly, it was a lot of fun. As you can see from my fly, you have to keep tying to get better at it.

Summer Mornings

Sunrise

There is something about the sun slowly rising in the sky out in the desert. The cactus seem to catch the light and then each needle seems to glow. The rocks have not yet been heated in the furnace so the temperature feels tolerable. Birds begin to move from their roosts and search for breakfast before seeking midday shade. This makes for the best time to be out here year round, especially in the summer.

For many summers now, trips out to the Usery Pass archery range have become the norm. The time spent with bow in hand tossing arrows is always relaxing. The facilities are great with several walking courses, including a 3D target course. There is also the important covered canopy range with target's starting at 15 yards and going out to 100 yards. It wouldn't feel like summer without a few trips out here to keep the shooting skills at peak level. If you go during the morning you get double the pleasure.

Having Fun

Long Hot Summer

The month of July has been a long hot month here in the desert. I have not spent much time blogging either. Work hours have changed and I have been adapting to a new schedule, hopefully things will settle down now. During the month of July I have managed to escape to the rim country a few times. Much of the Tonto forest section of the rim is currently closed for fire hazard, a rough year for Arizona. I was forced to explore some new country, so I went with a friend and visited East Clear Creek and tossed some flies. Followed the next day by some fishing at Blue Ridge Reservoir. Did not catch a lot of fish that trip and took even less photos. That is a lesson for blogging learned, caught two nice fish in the first 15 minutes and that there would be plenty of photo ops, but that was pretty much it for the day.


East Clear Creek

Blue Ridge Blue Gill

 

 

The Blue



Two weeks later took my kids back up to East Clear Creek to camp and fish. Watched my 16 year old son land his first redside on a dry fly, thanks to the mini-hopper an Arizona must have dry. My daughter also landed a nice fish which got away as we prepared to take a picture. The twins did their best to dent the crawdad population that is out of control on the creek. That evening we were able to see the forest get a lot of much needed rain, about 7 hours worth. As we packed up and left that evening the lighting put on a show the whole 2 hour drive home.



Dry flies in the morning



Storm cloud seeds




Crawdad Kings



Now that August is approaching, we start in to my favorite time of year. Just got a new fall catalog to remind me of all the gear I need. Days will shorten and the morning temps will dip back into the 70's. Bird hunting can then only be right around the corner. Time to prepare for a great fall of hunting, fly fishing, and biking.